Christopher Pyne's pledge sparks fears public schools will be ignored

Education Minister Christopher Pyne has told Christian school leaders that his government has an ''emotional commitment'' to private schools, prompting fears the Abbott government will abandon public schools.

Speaking at a Christian Schools Australia national policy dinner in Canberra this week, Mr Pyne assured the school leaders he did not want to sever long-held ties with Christian and independent schools.

"The emotional commitment within the federal government is to continue to have a direct relationship with the non-government schools sector": Education Minister Christopher Pyne. Photo: Andrew Meares

''I want to have a direct relationship with the non-government sector, as I believe we have had since 1963,'' Mr Pyne said. ''Having talked to the Prime Minister about this matter many times, it is his view that we have a particular responsibility for non-government schooling that we don't have for [state] government schooling.''

Mr Pyne assured the Christian schools he could not ''see those circumstances changing''.

Mr Pyne made the comments after fears were raised by the National Commission of Audit, which recommended funding and control of the non-government school sector should be handed to the states.

Commonwealth funding for state and independent schools will be provided under the Gonski formula designed to give funding to schools most in need. The government has committed to four years of ''Gonski'' funding, but there are fears independent schools would be favoured over state schools in a new deal for 2018 onwards.

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Mr Pyne's comments follow his statements - quickly quashed by the Prime Minister - that higher education fees for university students would still need to be paid even if the student died.

''The emotional commitment within the federal government is to continue to have a direct relationship with the non-government schools sector. I think the states and territories would prefer that as well,'' Mr Pyne said.

The president of the NSW Secondary Principals' Council, Lila Mularczyk, warned that Mr Pyne's comments signalled a commitment to directly fund non-government schools at the expense of public schools.

''Students most in need of additional learning support have seen Minister Pyne turn his back on them again,'' Ms Mularczyk said.

''We cannot rest easy when the educational gaps between schools, and often schooling systems, are entrenched and will grow because of a dismissive, dangerous budget and an Education Minister who openly claims to be emotionally driven in maintaining a relationship with the non-government sector.''

The Australian Education Union deputy federal president, Correna Haythorpe, said Mr Pyne's ''divisive view of schools'' was contrary to the needs-based principles of the Gonski funding model. Ms Haythorpe said federal funding of government schools was crucial to the quality and equity of the schools system.

''Federal governments have funded government schools for over 40 years, recognising the need to support state governments who do not have the same revenue base,'' Ms Haythorpe said.